“The government must wholeheartedly devote itself to creating conditions for state leaders to come, but I cannot reveal further details.”
Lam also declined to comment on whether her advisers and top officials would be put under a week-long “closed-loop” arrangement towards the end of June as part of the July 1 handover anniversary preparations.
On Monday, the city confirmed 543 new Covid-19 cases, including 86 imported ones, on top of 204 infections reported from schools that morning.
Lam conceded authorities were concerned over the increase in the number of coronavirus cases since the start of June, but several indicators, including hospital admission rates, remained reassuringly low.
“It is a bit too early to say that we are now confronting a sixth wave of Covid-19 because … a lot more indicators [are needed] to confirm the situation,” she said, adding she was unable to provide a “categorical answer”.
Lam also said the government would extend all current social-distancing rules and border control measures to the end of her term on June 30.
Health authorities also announced on Monday that all residents who submitted positive rapid antigen test (RAT) samples would have to undergo a polymerase chain reaction confirmation test. Those who failed to do so risked a HK$10,000 (US$1,275) fine and up to six months in jail if they were found to have deliberately submitted false information.
The decision was made after an increased proportion of people in such cases either tested negative the second time round or refused to provide specimens for checks.
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